Question: How can I help children retain the Bible verses they memorize?
Probably most children would respond positively if you asked:
"Who can
quote the Bible verse we learned last week?"
But what would happen if you asked:
"Who can
quote the last four Bible verses we learned?"
Would
any child be able to do it?
Could
you succeed in saying all the verses you challenged your children
to remember?
Several years ago we made a disappointing discovery. Most children in our class were consistently and correctly quoting the Bible verse learned the previous week. But when we asked, "What was our verse two weeks ago?" no one responded. Not one!
That scenario wouldn't happen today. Want to know how we corrected this navigational error and got our kids sailing on the verses-really-remembered course? Read on!
The first step: Stop teaching a new verse each week!
That's a radical idea, especially since the material you use may include a memory verse with each lesson. However your teacher's text should be your guide not your dictator! Try using the same verse for two weeks and strengthen the application.
Introduce the verse in an interesting way, explain it, apply it, say it several
times together and send a copy of the words home with them. (Click
here if you need to review the steps on how to help children
memorize a Bible verse.)
Since the majority of children will know the words, do something creative to
reinforce the application. Study these three examples:
Example 1 - Ask appropriate questions.
Suppose 1 Thessalonians 5:18 is your memory verse. (Click here if you would give thanks for some help recalling this verse.)
Before class write questions like the following on individual pieces of paper:
How did our verse help you this week?
Tell your class, "I have some questions about 1 Thessalonians 5:18. Who wants to be the teacher and ask a question?" The child says the verse, selects a question, reads it or asks you to read it, then chooses a volunteer (or two) to answer.
Choose a new "teacher" for each question. This is an excellent high-interest activity.
Suppose your memory verse is Jeremiah 33:3. (Click here if you need to call for help remembering the great and mighty things this verses says.)
Ask the class to say the words of the verse, but on the word "answer" anyone can stand who wants to share an answer to a prayer request. Choose one child who stands and have the rest be seated. Let the child share his answer to prayer and repeat the process.
Do something similar when a verse has the word "trust" letting them tell a time they trusted the Lord that week, or "courage" letting them tell when God helped them to be brave.
Suppose your memory verse is Proverbs 20:11. (Click here if even a child knows this verse but you want to check on the words.)
Write possible situations on a piece of paper. Let a volunteer choose a paper and act out situations like:
Doing the dishes
Stealing a candy bar
Helping someone who is hurt
Cheating on a test
Reading the Bible
After a situation is guessed have the children classify it as right or wrong. Quote Proverbs 20:11 together before the next situation is selected.
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Ask yourself, "Why do I want children to know this verse?" The answer will guide you in creating a simple activity. |
The next step:
Devise a system
to recall several verses.
Plan ahead as this may require that you choose a whole series of verses different from those suggested in your lesson material.
A - "All we like sheep . . . " Isaiah 53:6
B - "Believe on the Lord . . . " Acts 16:31
C - "Call unto Me . . . " Jeremiah 33:3
D - "Do all things without . . . " Philippians 2:14
E - "Every good gift . . . " James 1:17
A mother told us, "Travis really surprised me. He was asking me over and over if he could have something. So I said, 'Travis, can't you be happy with what you already have?'"
Almost without hesitation Travis told her, "Yes I could if I just remembered, 'Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights . . ." That's the "E" verse on the list above! This six year old understood and applied a verse learned weeks earlier.
M - "My God shall supply . . . " Philippians 4:19
O - "Only fear the Lord . . . " 1 Samuel 12:24
S - "Seek ye first the . . . " Matthew 6:33
E - "Every good gift . . . " James 1:17
S - "Set your affection on . . . " Colossians 3:2
Talking with a nine-year-old before Good News Club® we asked, "Do you ever go over the M-O-S-E-S verses at night?" Samantha said, "Yep! In my head I have like this screensaver. In my head 'M' goes s-l-o-w-l-y across the screen and I pop in the words! Then 'O' comes up . . . ." She remembered the series of verses because we gave her a system.
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Reinforce memorization by including the current verse,
and maybe some
others learned recently, throughout the class hour.
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Sometimes
children lose the verse papers you give them, they struggle with reading or no
one helps them practice throughout the week. Whatever you do in class may be the
only time some children - perhaps most of your children - will spend memorizing.
Trisha joined our Good News Club® several weeks into the program. Her second week, when we started asking children to quote the verse, this nine year old said, "You mean we were supposed to remember that?"
But now Trisha knows several verses. That's because we've made our goal to help children understand and retain God's Word.
How is your class doing on long-term memorization? Are you brave enough to find out? You may need to make some adjustments in your current plan. But you can be delighted instead of disappointed when asking children to recall their verses.
Where do you want to go next?
To other questions on Bible memorization:
What Bible verses should I challenge children to memorize?
How can I help children memorize a Bible verse?
What are some interesting ways to repeat the words while helping children
memorize a Bible verse?
To the place for encouragement (changed each week)
Is it a verse to praise God? Let children think of times they could quote it.
Practice!